Lifesaving jacket with automatic electric lighting unit



Feb. 16, 1937 I e. A. F. WINCKLER 2,070,813

LIFESAVING JACKET WITH AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC LIGHTING UNIT Original FiledFeb. 9, 1934 fm/enoc' flttorney l is? Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED.STATES mssvme .mcxar wrrn su'rom'nc,

.amc'rmc ucn'mzc UNIT Gunnar A. F. Winckler, Worcester, Mesa, as'signorto Winckler Engineering Laboratories Incorporated; Boston, Masa, acorporation Massachusetts Application February 9, 1934, Serial No.710,412

Renewed June 9, 1936 '1 claim. (on. 240-04) The invention relates to alite-jacket in combination with an automatic sea water link electricalgenerator. to be used more particularly under emergency conditions inmarine disasters for 6 eating persons in the darkness of the night. whohave been forced intothe water, voluntarily or otherwise. I I Theinvention consists of a life-jacket provided with an automatic lightinggenerator, lightl0 ing unit suitably secured in a pocket in thelifesaving Jacket which will automatically light when thrown into thewaters of the salt seas to locate the person in distress.

The invention further consists of a device for g removably securing thegenerator and lamp in position in the pocket to facilitate the varyingconditions. V

The invention further consists of the detail constructionoi the lightingunit adapted to suit the requirements of the lite-saving jacket and tofacilitate .its operation.

The generator consists of a zinc outer casing which serves as a negativepole iorthe generator and also supports the depending structure whichforms a complete lighting unithaving a concentric generating positivepole of maximum polarization area with tree space between the two polesto allow the electrolytic action to generate a constant current toautomatically light'the lamp when needed.

The invention further consists of converting the lighting unit' into atorch after it has been removed from the water and the jacket This isaccomplished by placing absorbing material, such as cloth in the freespace between the poles which will hold suiiicient electrolytic fluid tomaintain the light tor a considerable length oi. time.

The object of the invention is to provide an automatic lighting unit forlife-savingjackets to eliminate thedanger in marine disasters of losingpeople in the darkness of the night.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic lightingunit for lite-saving jackets which is-not dependent on the consciousmental condition of the user.

Referring to the ilgures:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the lite-saving jacket with the lamp andgenerator in position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the'same.

50 Fig. 3 is an elevation 01 the lamp and'generator partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the generating unit taken on the line 4-4,Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a full size cross-section of the generat- 55 ing unit taken onthe line 5-5, Fig. 3.

. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing an elevation oithe generatingunit and the lamp-globe secured in position to the lite jacket.

Fig. 7 is a plan view 01 the jacket broken away with the globe insection.

. m. a is a side elevation oi. the lower end or the generating unitbroken away, showing the electrolytic absorbing material between thepositive and negative poles.

Pig. 9 is a cross-section taken on the line 9-9. 5

Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawing this illustrates the new automatic lightingunit It. for lite-saving jackets. The life jacket is indicated by thenumeral Ii which is provided with a plurality of 10 cork floats I2secured between two layers of cloth i3 and 14 forming the jacket tosupport it when thrown into the waters of the salt seas. r a

In the back of the jacket i I between two layers of cloth is formed apocket I! open atone end 15 and provided with a bottom on the lower endfor removably supporting the generator. To hold the unit in position inthe jacket. the upper edges of the pocket l8 are formed into a choke H,which automatically closes in around the lamp globe l8 and the top ofthe generating unit iii.

The lower slope of the globe i8 and the larger size of the top of thegenerating unit form a hold- V ing groove i9 which allows the unit to beplaced in position under special stress. 25

The automatic choke l1 consists of sewing flexible material onboth sidesof the inside edges of the unit.- The rubber band grips the unit andholds it in position. With suflicient force the generating unit can bepulled out 01' the choke ii 40 necessity requires it. a e

The generating unit I0 is provided with an outer casing made of zincwhich serves as a negative pole of the generator. i-Concentric with thecasing Ills a positive pole 23 having a free space 24 between them toallow both poles to be immersed in the electrolytic fluid when thejacket is placed in the waters of the salt seas.

Formed diametrically opposite each other are rectangular slots 25, 26,21, and 28 which are filled with ground carbon 29 to increase thepolarizing area of the positive pole. The groundcarbon is held inposition by the cloth sleeve 30 forced over the positive pole member toprevent the carbon from being washed away, but it does allow theelectrolytic fluid to pass through and in around the ground carbon.Rigidly se-- cured in the upper end of the positive pole is a lampcontact 3|. Secured to the upper end of the zinc negative pole casing i0is lamp support and current conductor 32 made of wire having a pluralityof helical convolutions forming the lamp socket 33 for the lamp 34.

The positive pole 23 and the globe H! are concentrically located inrelation to the casing upper hole 38 which allows the sea water to enterfreely.

When the generating unit is used with the lifejacket it does notgenerate current until it is immersed in an electrolytic fliiidsuch assea water. Under normal conditions when the jacket is taken out of thefluid, the light goes out because no current is generated. To allow thegen-; erator to be used as a torch when it is removed fromtheelectrolyte, a novel means is provided for retaining the electrolyticfluid. This is accomplished by inserting fluid absorbing material,

such as cloth 39. between the poles as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Thematerial will absorb sumcient electrolytic fluid to allow current to begenerated for days and is a very eflicient means for serving as a torchor any practical purpose.

To allow the electrolytic fluid to saturate the cloth sufliciently, aplurality of holes 37 are ma chined in the casing or negative pole l8.

In operation and assembling of the device, a life jacket made of twolayers oi. cloth l3 and I 4 is used as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. Thepocket l5, preferably in the back of the jacket, is made from two layersof cloth adapted to hold the generating unit after it-is secured inposition by a flexible choke H which not only allows it to' be'placed inposition, but also allows it to be removed at will. When the userwearing the jacket is forced into the waters of the salt. seas,

the generator is immersed in the electrolytic fluid which startsgenerating current, which in turn automatically lights the signallinglight.

After a-person is rescued the electrolytic fluid,

held by the absorbent material, will permit the lamp to remain lightedand serves as a. torch;

The generator can be removed by a quick jerk.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the UnitedStates is: 1. In a life-saving jacket, in combination with an automaticsea water link electrical generator having positive and negative polesoperating in from the jacket saline solution when the generator isimmersed energized thereby, a pocket in the jacket open I therein, alamp carried by the generator to be at one end for removably supportingthe generator. H

2. In a lite-saving jacket, in combination with an automatic sea waterlink electrical generator having positive and negative poles operatingin saline solution when the generator is immersed therein, a lampcarried by the generator to'be energized thereby, a pocket in the jacketopen at one end for removably supporting the generator, and means forholding the generator in position in the pocket.

3. In a life-saving jacket, in combination with an automatic sea waterlink electrical generator 7 having positive and negative-poles operatingin saline solution when the generator is immersed therein, a lampcarried by the generator to be to the generator forming an annular ridgecooperating with the flexible choke member for holding the generatorinposition in the pocket and allowing it to be removed by a quick jerk.

4. In a life-saving jacket, in combination with an automatic sea waterlink electrical generator having positive and negative polesoperating-in saline solution when the generator is immersed therein, .alamp carried by the generator to be energized thereby, a pocket in thejacket open at one end for removably supporting the generator, and meansin relation to the pocket and the casing to permit the sea water toenter and, to immerse the generator poles.

5. In a life-saving jacket, in combination with an automatic sea waterlink electrical generator having positive and negative poles operatingin saline solution when the generator is immersed therein, a lampcarried by the generator to be energized thereby, a pocket in the jacketopen at one end for removably supporting the generator, cloth formingthe pocket capable of having water pass through it, holes formed in thecasing between the ends of the generator casing to allow the water toenter at the lower end and,

' the air to pass out at the upper end to permit the water'to enterthe-generator casing.

6. In a life-saving jacket, in combination with an automatic sea waterlink electrical generator having positive and negative poles operatingin saline solution when the generator is immersed therein, a lampcarried by the generator to be energized thereby, a pocket in the jacketopen at one end for removably supporting the generator, cloth formingthe pocket capable of having water pass through it, holes formed in thecasing between the ends to allow the water to enter at the lower end andthe air to pass out at the upper end to permit the water to flow freelyinto the generator casing, and means located between the poles andbottom of the casing to permit the lamp to remain lighted after thjacket is removed from the water. I

7. In a life-saving jacket, in combination with an automatic sea waterlink electrical generator having positive and negative poles operatingin saline solution when the generator is, immersed therein, a lampcarried by the generator to be tween the said-poles, abottom -to thecasing to prevent the water from running 01! to permit the lamp toremain lighted after the jacket leaves the comma A. r. wmcxma.

